Sciatica is a pinching or compression of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve comes from the lower back or lumbar spine. The cause is a disc that is bulging into the nerve root space or from inflammation or bone spur coming from the facet joints.

Most of the time you will feel pain, numbness or tingling down the back of the leg into the foot. Depending in the severity of the nerve compression and the time the pressure has been on the nerve will effect the symptoms.

The majority of sciatica conditions can be treated conservatively with chiropractic care, exercise and time. Others need injections (10%) and surgery for a few (5%).

Sprained joints in the lower back or sprained sacroiliac joints can be confused for true sciatica. These conditions can be resolved at the chiropractor quite quickly.

These conditions usually don't produce pain down the leg past the knees. Pain in the buttocks, front of the thigh or outside of the thigh usually indicate a sacroiliac or facet sprain.

For more information come to our Roseville chiropractic office. Our Roseville chiropractors are there Monday through Saturday.